SIDNEY – Bethel’s girls basketball team headed into their non-conference game against Sidney hoping to battle the Division One school closely.  After a slow start, the Lady Bees hit their key free throws down the stretch and knocked off the Yellow Jackets 55-51 on the road.

“Down the stretch, the free throws helped take the pressure off,” Bethel coach Ed Quincel said, as the Lady Bees were 8-8 in the final minute when they counted.  “The girls just came out and did their job.  Before the game, I just told them to come out and have fun.  Maybe that’s a speech I should use more often.”
Sidney came out fast jumping in front 10-0, as Brittany Koester scored four quick points, and three came from Sarah Karas giving them the lead.  Brooke Cornett broke the scoreless streak with a 15-footer putting Bethel on the board with 5:32 left in the first period.
The Lady Yellow Jackets continued to push their lead near double figures as freshman Konner Harris, who led Sidney with 18 points, scored four points.  Sidney led by nine until Kendal Banks hit a three-pointer toward the end of the first quarter, closing the Jacket lead to 17-11 after one period.
Sidney maintained their lead through the first four minutes of the second quarter when Bethel took over.
Emily Ellerbrock scored seven consecutive points, including 3-3 from the free throw line, tying the game at 27 with 2:35 left in the half.  Krista Burchett and Brook Cornett added free throws, as Bethel outscored Sidney 10-0 in the final four minutes of the quarter, and took a 30-27 lead into the half.
“It was good to see the girls come back after getting behind 10-0 early,” Quincel said.  “A couple of times today we scored in bunches, and they played hard.”
Harris came out and hit a quick three to open the second half for Sidney, tying the game at 30 and starting a 8-0 run for the Jackets.  They led 35-30 before the Lady Bees again came back with a run.
Seven consecutive points, including three each from Burchett and Mercedes Nelson, brought Bethel back into the lead at 37-35.  They would not trail again.
“We played without Emily for most of the third, and the kids did a great job,” Quincel said.  “They played hard and smart.”
Heading to the fourth, they led 39-36, and increased it to seven when Ellerbrock hit a short jumper.  Sidney had one more run in them as Kenya Steele scored four points tying the game at 45, but the Lady Bees scored the next six points to take a 51-45 lead in the final minute.
Mercedes Nelson, Ellerbrock and Cornett went 6-6 down the stretch while the game was still in doubt, leading Bethel to their fourth win of the season.
Bethel (4-5) was led by Ellerbrock with 19 points, and is back in action Dec. 30 hosting Southeastern.